Method of applying dividers to bottles



June 22, 1965 R. H. GANZ METHOD OF APPLYING DIVIDERS TO BOTTLES 9 Sheets-Sheet 1 Original Filed Aug. 5, 1960 METHOD OF APPLYING DIVIDERS TO BOTTLES Original Filed Aug. 5, 1960 9 Sheets-Sheet 2 T1: .ZA.

INVENTOR 0361?? H- Gmvz BY if ATTO EYS June 22, 1965 R. H. GANZ 3,190,048

METHOD OF APPLYING DIVIDERS TO BOTTLES Criginal Filed Aug. 3, 1960 9 Sheets-Sheet 3 J1me 1965 R. H. GANZ 90,048

METHOD OF APPLYING DIVIDERS TO BOTTLES Original Filed Aug. 3, 1960 9 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTOR Pose/er Qmvz A gRNEYS June 22, 1965 R. H. GANZ 3,190,048

METHOD OF APPLYING DIVIDERS TO BOTTLES Original Filed Aug. 5, 1960 9 Sheets-Sheet 6 INVENTOR Pose/er G'AWZ ATTO EY$ June 22, 1965 R. H. GANZ 3,190,048

METHOD OF APPLYING DIVIDERS 'I'O BOTTLES Criginal Filed Aug. 3, 1960 9 Sheets-Sheet 7 TlcTlll ATTO EY 5 June 22, 1965 R. H. GANZ 3,190,048

METHOD OF APPLYING DIVIDERS TO BOTTLES Original Filed Aug. 3, 1960 9 Sheets-Sheet 8 w-m-u-nu II: I I I.

INVENITOR Passer/i @awz June 22, 1965 R. H. GANZ 3,190,048

METHOD OF APPLYING DIVIDERS TO BOTTLES Original Filed Aug. 3, 1960 9 Sheets-Sheet 9 1? I u L I INVENTOR /?oswr /V. Gn/vz ,2 ATTO EYS United States Patent 0 3,l9tl,tl43 METHQD Gi AlPPLYlNG DEV Ti EtB'iTLEB Robert H. Ganz, Bergeniieid, Ni, assignor to Qontinental 62in (Zompany, Inc, New York, N.Y., a corporation of New York Original application Aug. 3, 19nd, Ser. No. 47,293, new Patent No. 3,931,813, dated May 1, i962. and this application Mar. 2, 1962, Ser. No. 177,6?86 3 Claims. (Ci. 53- 26) This invention relates to the packaging of bottles and the like in which a divider is applied to the bottles to separate them from one another. My invention has special application for use with wrap-around paperboard carriers. Wrap-around carriers are commonly used with cans and other containers which are not of a fragile nature. In the case of applying wrap-around paperboard carriers to groups of bottles it is advantageous to insert dividers to separate the bottles from one another, not only for the purpose of protecting the bottles from breakage but also in order to comply with the requirements of common carriers and other agencies which handle such goods. This application is a division of my copending application Serial No. 47,293, filed August 3, 1960, now Patent No. 3,031,813, gran-ted May 1, 1962.

Summary In accordance with my invention, the bottles are delivered into the machine by a conveyor. The divider blanks are delivered into the machine on a conveyor whi h is disposed at right angles to and above the line of travel of the containers. The divider blanks are provided with a longitudinal partition which is adapted to divide the rows of containers to be packaged and also lateral partitions which are adapted to divide the containers in a row from one another. The lateral partitions are rotatably mounted in pairs about a common axis and they extend away from one another in the plane of the longitudinal partition.

As the divider blanks advance into the machine along the divider blank conveyor, they pass beneath a folder which is synchronized with the conveyor and which forces the lateral partitions adjacent the end portions of the divider blank upwardly about their mounting axis. Upon further advancement of the divider blank, it passes beneath an additional folder which engages the inner partitions of each pair and folds them downwardly. At this point the pairs of lateral partitions are deflected away from one another and at an angle to the longitudinal partition.

As the carton blank continues to advance into the machine the upwardly extending lateral partitions are engaged by folding bars which subsequently fold the partitions down upon one another as they are supported by a guide. The divider blank conveyor then carries the blanks beyond the end of the conveyor and into engag ment with moving belts which are arranged around a plurality of pulleys and which are adapted to advance and rotate the divider blank in such a manner that the longitudinal partition assumes a vertical position. As the divider blank is rotated by the belts the lower extending lateral partitions are maintained in position by contact with rollers positioned beneth the path of travel of the belts. As the divider blank is rotated to a position wherein the longitudinal partition is in a vertical plane, the overlapped upper lateral partitions are deflected away from one another so that they assume a position substantially at right angles to the plane of the longitudinal partitions and substantially in alignment with the other extending lateral partitions.

The moving belts and the related elements which rotate the longitudinal partition to the vertical plane are positioned over the container conveyor. The line of travel of the longitudinal partition of the divider blank is aligned with the center line of the container conveyor beneath. As the containers advance along the container conveyor they approach the portion beneath the means for inserting the divider blanks between the bottles. At the location along the container conveyor which is benea-th the inserting means it is necessary to separate the containers from one another in order that the downwardly moving divider blank may be received. The separation of the bottles along a row may be obtained by spacing pusher elements at intervals greater than the dimension of the bottles along the line of travel. For the case where the containers are continually urged in the direction toward the machine, lug members may be provided to hold the containers against the incoming line pressure. Separation of the containers in one row from another row must also be obtained to provide the necessary clearance for the lateral partitions of the divider. To obtain this clearance the rows of containers at the location beneath the inserting means may be tilted outwardiy away from one another so that a varying clearance is established between them having its widest portion at the upper portions of the containers. Clearance for the longitudinal partition may also be obtained by separating the two rows of containers beneath the inserting means by the use of a guide member disposed between the rows and having divergent and convergent end portions arranged in the direction of travel through the machine. With the containers separated from one another in a row and with the rows separated from each other, clearance is provided so that the erected divider blank can be inserted from above. The velocity of the drive belts of the inserting means and its synchronization with the container conveyor insures the rapid and smooth entry of the divider between the containers.

Description in the drawings, I have illustrated a machine to show the best mode contemplated by me of carrying out my invention for applying a divider blank to containers which are subsequently to be packaged in groups.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the erection of the lateral partitions of the divider blank and the insertion of the divider blank between the bottles.

FZGS. 2A and 2B, when joined along the dash lines, are a plan view of the machine.

FIGS. 3A and 35, when joined along the dash lines, are a vertical sectional view of the machine.

PEG. 4 is an enlarged plan view of the container separating means.

FIG. 5 is an enlarged elevational view of the container separating means.

FIG. 6 is an enlarged vertical sectional view of the rotating folder taken along the line 6-d in FIGS. 2B and 3B.

FIG. '7 is an enlarged vertical sectional view of the additional rotating folder taken along the line 77 in FIGS. 2B and 3B.

FIG. 8 is an enlarged vertical sectional view of the folding bars taken along the line 853 in FIGS. and 3B.

P16. 9 is an enlarged vertical sectioned view of the inserting means and the separating means taken along line of FEGS. 2B, 4, 5 and 10.

FIG. 10 is an enlarged elevational view of the inserting means and separating means taken along the line ltl-d of P16. 218.

FIG. 11 is a plan View of the driving chains for the separating means.

FIG. 12 is a plan View of a modified form of the separating means.

FIG. 1-3 is an enlarged vertical sectional View of the modified form of the separating means taken along the line 13 13 in FIG. 12.

FIG. 14 is a plurality of fragmentary plan views of a modified form of the divider blank.

FIG. 15 is an enlarged elevational view of the inserting means showing a modified form of guides for the divider blank partitions.

FIG. 16 is a vertical sectional view of the modified form of the guides taken along the line ltd-16 in FIG. 15.

FIG; 17 is an enlarged vertical sectional view of a modified form of the guide members for separating the rows of bottles.

A plan view of the machine is obtained by placing FIG. 2A to the left of FIG. 2B and, similarly, an elevational view is obtained by placing FIG. 3A to the left of PEG. 3B. Divider blanks 20 are stored in hopper 21 which includes bed plate 22 having stops The divider blanks are fed onto divider blank conveyor 24 by the action of suction cups 25 attached to arms 26 which are driven by shaft 27. The motion of shaft 27 swings arms as so that suction cups 25 stripthe outer divider blank from the blanks supported in hopper 21 and pulls it past supporting wheels 23 at the upper portions of the blanks and stops 23. The divider blank is placed upon conveyor 24 at position 29 shown by a dash line in FIG. 3A. Divider blank conveyor 24 operates arcund sprockets 30 mounted upon shaft 31 and sprockets 32 mounted upon shaft 33. Pushers 34 attached to conveyor 24 move divider blanks 2% to the right as viewed in FIGS. 2A, 28, 3A and 3B.

Divider blank Zti (FIG. 1) includes longitudinal partition 35 which is adapted for positioning between rows 36 of bottles 37. Pairs of lateral partitions 38, 39 including lateral partitions 4d, and 32, 43, respectively, are rotatably mounted in longitudinal partition 35 and in flat form are disposed substantially within the plane of the longitudinal partition. Fold lines 4-4 attach lateral partitions 4 1 and 42, respectively, to longitudinal partitions 35.

Upon being fed from hopper 21, divider blanks 2t) are placed upon divider blank conveyor 24- and are additionally supported by plate 46 and rails 47 adjacent to the conveyor. In the lateral direction, the divider blanks are positioned by side guides 38 adjacent to the outer portions of divider blank 2 1. Rails 47 and plate 46 are supported by cross members 49 and Sit. The cross members are attached to frame members 51 which also support side guides 48; The divider blanks are held flush against divider blank conveyor 2 rails 4-7 and plate 46 by means of rails 52 and 53 overlying the path of travel of the blanks. Rails 52 are supported by bracket The erection of divider blank 21? is initiated by the contact of folding lugs 58 attached to discs 59 which are driven in rotation by shaft 6 1. The rotating folding lugs are synchronized with the travel of divider blank conveyor 2d and are positioned so that they apply an upward force to lateral partitions 4t? and causing them to be deflected upwardly and out of the plane of longitudinal partition 35. The holding action of rails 52 and 53, overlying the divider blanks, supports them during the upward folding of lateral partitions dtl and d3. The divider blank is then advanced beyond the end 6 1 of plate 46 and enters upon plates 62 and ea. The divider blank passes beneath rotating folder 64 which is driven in a counter-clockwise direction as viewed in FIG. 313 by means of drive chain 65 passing over sprocket 66. Folder 64- includes arm 67 mounted upon shaft 63 with folding rollers '69 being supported by the arm.

The contact of folding lugs 58 upon lateral partitions 4i) and 43 (FIG. 6) forces them upwardly and out of the plane of longitudinal partition 35. In order to hold lateral partitions 4b and 4-3 upwardly, divider blank 26) may be constructed as shown in FIG. 14. In this modification the divider is constructed from two layers of paperboard overlying and in contact with one another. in layer 7t lateral partition 71 is provided with tabs 72 extendin into longitudinal partition 73, Layer 74 which is adapted to overlie and contact layer 7t? consists of longitudinal partition 75 and lateral partition 76 which has substantially square cuts 77. By assembling layer 74 over layer 73, a composite divider blank 78 is obtained. In the composite blank square cuts 77 are adjacent to tabs 72 which extend beneath them. Upon deflecting the composite lateral partition formed from lateral partitions 71 and is until the deflected position 7% is obtained, square cuts 77 pass over tabs 72 which spring back into place thereby blocking the return motion of the partition. Thus as the lateral partition is deflected it is locked and its return motion is prevented by the action of tabs 72.

As lateral partitions 41 and 42 are folded downwardly by the urging of rollers 69, blank 2% is advanced forward until the leading edges of lateral partitions 4 1 and 42 contact the edges of tongue portion 89 of plate 81. The Wedging action of the edges of tongue portion 80 on lateral partitions 4 1 and 4 2 swings them into a position at substantially right angles to longitudinal partition 35. Further movement of the divider blank passes the portion of the longitudinal partition between fold lines 44 and 45 beneath the curved end portion of guide 83. The leading edges of lateral partitions as and 43 (FIG. 7) which are outwardly deflected contact tapered edges 84 and 85 of folding bars $6 and 37, respectively, overlying plates 62 and 63. As the divider blank-s are advanced beyond the tapered edges of the folding bars lateral partitions 4d and 43 contact edges and 89 of folding bars 86 and 87, respectively. Guide 83 is supported in an overlying position at a distance from plate 81 by means of bracket 9i mounted upon bar 91. Folding bars 35 and 87 are supported by brackets $2 and 93, respectively, mounted upon bar 9 1. The leading edge of lateral partition 49 then contacts tapered edge Wt of folding bar 86 and the partition folded downwardly onto converging portion of guide 33. Subsequently, the leading edge of lateral partition 43 contacts tapered edge 96 of folding bar 87 and the partition is folded down onto partition 46 As carton blank 2t) passes beyond end portion 97 of divider blank conveyor 24 and end portions 98 of plates '63, the blank enters between moving belts 99 and 100 which pass over pulleys 161 and 1&2, respectively. As shown in FIG. 3B, belts 99 are driven in a counterclockwise direction over pulleys 1G1 and pass in contact with belts 1% until they turn across pulleys 103 and 104. Belts 1% pass in a clockwise manner over pulleys 1G2 and subsequently travel in contact with belts 99 until belts 1% pass over pulleys 1G5. Bolts 99 and 1% which have contacting portions operating in the same direction are adapted to engage and drive blank 2t) between them. Pulleys 1M, 1M, and 194- are mounted upon shafts 106, MW, and 169, respectively, which are supported by plates 1%. Flates 1G8 also support pulleys 163 and MP5.

As divider blank 2t passes between belts 9? and 1M longitudinal partition 35' enters upon rollers 1'10 and downwardly extending partitions 4 1 and 4?. pass outside the rollers supported by shaft 167. Overlying rollers 11d are curved portions 111 and 112 of folding bars 36 and 87 which guide the divider blank as it is deformed by passing between belts 99 and 1%. As the divider blank passes between the belts, lateral partitions 40 and 43 remain folded across one another and overlie curved portions 83a of guide 83. When the divider blank is driven beyond pulleys lit-"3 and 1G5, deflector 114 urges lateral partitions 4t and 43 in an outward direction so that they assume a position substantially at right angles to longitudinal partition 35. At the same time that the divider blank passes between the belts, lateral partitions 4-1 and 42 contact rollers and are folded additionally away from one another to insure that tabs 72 'lock and prevent a reverse movement of the partitions. Rollers 11o cause partitions 4'1 and 42 to pass beneath curved portions 111 and 112 where the outward folding is completed. Deflector 114 which extends outwardly from the planes of belts 99 and 1% in contact with one another is supported by rod 115 attached to bar 116 which is supported by plates 1%.

Bottles 37 are delivered into the machine (FIG. by means of container conveyor 117. Container conveyor 1'17 urges the bottles constantly toward the means for inserting the divider blanks. In order to provide spacing in a row between the bottles, lug members 118 are attached to chain 119 in pairs 12-1 having predetermined intervals between them greater than the dimension of the bottles in the direction of travel. As shown in FIG. 10 the middle and trailing bottles of a group having three bottles in each row will bear against surfaces 12 1 and 1.22. of the lug members 118 in a pair While the leading bottle will bear against the trailing bottle in the preceding group. Clearance is established about the middle bottles of a group in order to permit the free insertion of the laterel partitions of the divider blank.

The bottles are advanced by container conveyor 117 underlying them. The container conveyor is supported 'by base 124 which additionally supports centrally located elevated rail .125. Guides 126 hold the bottles in position along the conveyor. Chains 119 (PEG. 11) which travel over sprockets 127, 128 and 125 are driven by sprocket 136 which is mounted on gear box 131. Drive to gear box 131 is provided by means of sprockets 232 over which runs drive chain 133. Sprockets 127 and 128 cause chains ll? to approach bottles 37 at an angle so that lug members 113 smoothly enter between the bottles and gradually take up the line pressure being applied by container conveyors 117.

To provide suiiicient clearance between the upper portions of bottles 37 in order to receive longitudinal partition 35, the bottles of each row may be tilted outwardly from one another. The tilting action is achieved by providing a portion to base 124 having a sloping section 134 so that conveyor chains 1'17 supported thereon will provide a sloping supporting surface to the bottoms of the bottles. cated by arrows. Adjacent to sloping section 134 guides 126 are relieved as indicated by arrow 135 to accommodate the tilt of the bottles. Container conveyor 117 (FIG. 5) has sufiicient looseness so that it maybe twisted to conform to the sloping section. The entry of lug members 118 (FIG. 4) to provide the required spacing between the bottles in each row occurs as the bottles enter the sloping section with the result that the provision of clearance around the bottles occurs simultaneously. It is evident that the provision of clearance along the rows and between the rows may be conducted in other predetermined orders.

In place of tilting the rows of bottles away from each other in order to provide clearance for longitudinal partitions the rows of bottles may be diverted away from one another. Guide member 166 having wedge-like end portions may be positioned in line with elevated rail 125 at the location where the divider is to be inserted. Guides 12s are relieved adjacent to guide member 1136 to accommodate the bot-ties in each row being displaced away from one another. Similarly as for the case of tilting the bottles, lug members 118 are employed to provide the necessary clearance between the bottles in each row. Again it is evident that the provision of the clearance by the action of lug members 118 and the guide member 136 may be conducted simultaneously or in a predetermined sequential order.

With separation provided about the bottles in a group to be packaged the divider blank is inserted by being driven downwardly between belts 99 and res so as to enter between the bottles. The lateral partitions are dispose-d at substantially right angles to the longitudinal partition by means of guides 111, 11-2 and rollers as well as the separating action of deflector 7.14. The speed of insertion is sufiiciently fast to enable the divider In FIG. 4, the sloping section 134- is indi- A h blank to fully enter between the bottles and to preclude the possibility of the lateral partitions moving to any measurable extent after they have left rollers l ltl' and deflector 114. In its downward descent the divider blank is stopped when longitudinal partition 35' comes into contact with elevated rail or guide 136 as determined by the separating configuration being employed. Under the control of lug members 118 along chain 119, the groups of bottles with their inserted divider move forward from beneath the inserting means. As the groups pass beyond the inserting means, pressure wheel 137 mounted upon shaft 138 in arm 139 comes into contact with the upper edge of longitudinal partition 35. Arm 1 3% is attached by pivot 140 to plate the and is biased in a downward manner by the urging of spring 141. The urging of pressure wheel 13-7 insures that the longitudinal partitions are fully seated with respect to the bottles. Beyond the divider inserting means the bottles pass beyond controlled lug members 118 at sprocket 129 and are then received by conveyor 142 (FIG. 11).

In the drawings the divider is shown being applied to groups of bottles consisting of two rows of three bottles each. To properly separate such a group, a longitudinal partition and two airs of lateral partitions are require It is evident that the machine may be adapted to insert divider blanks between groups having different arrangements of the bottles.

In a modified form of the machine curved portions 111 and 112 of folding bars 86 and 87 may be provided with extensions 1 33 and 1.44, respectively (FIG. 15). The extensions gradually release lateral partitions 4t) and 43 as the divider blank passes from in contact with roller 1143, thereby enabling the partitions to swing away from one another. The release of the partitions occurs as they approach the location of deflector 114. v

The same modified form of the machine may also include guide members 145 and 146. The guide members are supported by brackets 147 and plates 148 attached to frame member 51 (FIG. 16). After the divider blanks are advanced around roller 110, lateral partitions 41 and d2 lose contact with the rollers and are engaged by tapered portions 145a and 146a of guide members 145 and 146, respectively. As the blanks descend toward the bottles, lateral partitions 41 and 42 are maintained at substantially right angles to the remainder of the blank by engagement with end portions 149 and 159 of guide members 14 -5 and 146, respectively. In this way, the smooth passage of the erected divider blank onto the bottles is insured.

In still another modification of the machine, guide member 151 (FIG. 17) 'Which maintains the rows of bottles separated as the divider blanks are inserted, is provided with an upper sloping surface 152. The sloping surface eliminates any tendency for the divider blank to bounce when contacting guide member 151. By virtue of sloping surface 152, the lower edge of longitudinal partition is directed at a downward angle against the bottles of one row and is thereby prevented from bouncing.

Operation As a further aid to the understanding of my invention, I shall now describe the preferred sequence of operating steps.

Divider blanks 2d are fed from hopper 21 onto divider blank conveyor 24 which delivers the blank into the machine. During delivery the carton blanks are held fiat against conveyor 24 by the pressure of overlying rails 52 and 53. The initial step in erecting the divider blanks occurs as the outer lateral partitions 4t) and 43 pass over rotating folding lugs 58 which force the lateral partitions upwardly about their fold lines and out of the plane of longitudinal partition 35. While being supported on plates 62 and 63 the blank passes beneath rotating folder 654, rollers se of which fold lateral partitions 41 and 42 7 downwardly beneath the plane of longitudinal partition 45.

As the divider blank continues to advance folding bars 86 and 87 fold lateral partitions 4t? and 43 down upon each other above guide 83. During the folding of lateral partitions 40 and 43, they are sufiiciently flexed with respect to the other lateral partitions so that they may ultimately assume a position at right angles to the iongitudinal partition.

Carton blanks 24 are then conveyed between moving belts 99 and 1%. The portion of belts 99 and 1% which are in contact with one another along pulleys 162 and down to pulleys 105 engage and draw the carton blanks between them so as to move them forward and around pulleys 102. As the blank is drawn between the belts, lateral partitions 40 and 43 remain folded over curved portion 83a of guide 83 due to the urging of folding bars 86 and 87. At the same time, lateral partitions 4-1 and 42 are folded additionally away from one another by contacting rollers 111) and passing between the rollers and curved portions 111 and 112. As the blank approaches the lower portion of the vertical run of belts 99 and 1% adjacent to pulleys 1d?) and 105, lateral partitions 4d and 43 are forced outwardly by deflector 114 so that these partitions assume a position Substantially at right angles to the longitudinal partition. At this point, the downwardly descending erected divider is ready to enter between the bottles.

Bottles 37 are delivered into the machine along conveyor 117 which passes beneath the divider inserting means and are disposed at substantially right angles to the divider blank conveyor 24. Conveyor 117 urges bottles 27 continually forward in the direction of divider inserting means. In order to separate the bottles from contact with each other in a given row lug members 118 attached to chains 119 are inserted between the incoming bottles. The interval between lug members 118 in the direction of travel of bottles is predetermined to be greater than the dimension of the bottles in the direction of travel. Lug members 118 oppose the urging of conveyors 117 so that the bottles are forced against the lug members thereby establishing clearance between one another. In

order to separate the rows of bottles to receive longitudinal partitions 35, the bottles are tilted outwardly away from one another by means of the sloping section of base 124 upon which conveyor 117 is supported. In a modified form the rows of bottles may be separated by being diverted by guide member 136 having wedge-like end portions.

With the bottles separated from one another, belts 99 and 1% insert the erected divider blank 24 down between the bottles. The bottles are then conveyed away from the separating means and wheel 1137 bearing upon the upper edge of the longitudinal partition insures that thedivider is completely seated between the bottles.

The terms and expressions which I have employed are used in a descriptive and not a limiting sense, and I have no intention of excluding equivalents of the invention described and claimed.

Iclaim:

1. In a method for applying a folding divider blank to rows of containers to be packaged, the divider blank including a longitudinal partition adapted to divide the rows of containers and lateral partitions rotatably mounted in said longitudinal partition and adapted to divide the containers in a row from one anothenthe steps comprising delivering the divider blanks with the longitudinal and lateral partitions initially lying in a common plane, delivering the containers, separating the containers being delivered from one another, rotating the lateral partitions into position in which they are erected at an angle to the longitudinal partition as the blanks are delivered, and inserting the erected divider blanks between the containers.

2. A method in accordance with claim 1 in which the inserting of the erected divider blanks includes rotating the erected blanks from a first position disposed at an angle to the direction of movement of the containers being delivered into a second position in alignment with the separated container and urging the blanks between the separated containers.

3. In a method for applying a folding divider blank to rows of containers to be packaged, the divider blank including a longitudinal partition adapted to divide the rows of containers and lateral partitions positioned adjacent one another in pairs and extending away from one another in the plane of the longitudinal partition, one lateral partition of each of said pairs being rotatably attached to the longitudinal partition, the other lateral partition of each of said pairs being rotatably attached to said one lateral partition about an axis substantially coincident with the axis of rotation of said one lateral partition, the steps comprising folding said other partitions in a predetermined direction to a predetermined position with respect to the longitudinal partition, folding said one lateral partition in the direction opposite to that of said predetermined direction to a predetermined position, and urging said one lateral partition in said predetermined direction substantially into the plane of said longitudinal partition, whereby .said blank is prepared for insertion between said containers with said pairs of lateral partions at substantially right angles to the longitudinal partition.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS FRANK E. BAILEY, Primary Examiner.

BROMLEY SEELEY, Examiner. 

1. IN A METHOD FOR APPLYING A FOLDING DIVIDER BLANK TO ROWS OF CONTAINERS TO BE PACKAGED, THE DIVIDER BLANK INCLUDING A LONGITUDINAL PARTITION ADAPTED TO DIVIDE THE ROWS OF CONTAINERS AND LATERAL PARTITIONS ROTATABLY MOUNTED IN SAID LONGITUDINAL PARTITION AND ADAPTED TO DIVIDE THE CONTAINERS IN A ROW FROM ONE ANOTHER, THE STEPS COMPRISING DELIVERING THE DIVIDER BLANKS WITH THE LONGITUDINAL AND LATERAL PARTITIONS INITIALLY LYING IN A COMMON PLANE, DELIVERING THE DIVIDER BLANKS WITH THE LONBEING DELIVERED FROM ONE ANOTHER, ROTATING THE LATERAL PARTITIONS INTO POSITION IN WHICH THEY ARE ERECTED AT AN ANGLE TO THE LONGITUDINAL PARTITION AS THE BLANKS ARE DELIVERED, AND INSERTING THE ERECTED DIVIDER BLANKS BETWEEN THE CONTAINERS. 